Broncos season comes to an end

OKANOGAN – The undefeated Okanogan Bulldogs ended the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague/Washtucna/Harrington boys football season Friday night, Nov. 4, with a 55-7 rout of the Broncos.

The No. 2-ranked Bulldogs (10-0) ran up a 42-0 lead in the second quarter, following a scoreless first quarter.

"We started off slow in the first quarter with a three-and-out and then two fumbles," Okanogan Coach Erick Judd said. "But in the second quarter, we were able to score on a 4th down at the 1-yard line and that started one of the best quarters of football I have seen in a while."

Bulldog senior running back Johnny Swartsel scored 7 touchdowns in the game, five in the second quarter. Taggert Grooms and Cutter Pritchard added a score each.

The Broncos fired back in the 4th quarter after quarterback Jayce Kelly completed a 3-yard pass to Hunter Dinkins for six points.

The extra point from Ledger Kelly was also good, though with only 3 minutes left on the clock, not enough to mount a comeback.

The Broncos came into the game ranked No. 3, but due to a predetermined draw after a three-way tie atop the Northeast 2B, they were forced to travel to Okanogan for a District 6/7 crossover game that likely should've taken place in the state playoffs.

The loss means the Broncos won't make an appearance in the state playoffs.

Meanwhile, two NE2B teams remain alive.

Jenkins (Chewelah) edged the Brewster Bears, 20-14 in overtime, to advance to the playoffs.

And the Liberty (Spangle) Lancers slipped past the Lake Roosevelt Raiders, 15-6, for a state berth.

Liberty slips in as the No. 8-ranked team. It will face No. 9-ranked River View this Friday or Saturday. At press time, the game details had yet to be announced.

The Jenkins Cougars earned a bye this week as the No. 4 seed.

They will return to the gridiron on Nov. 18 or 19 to play the winner of the Toledo vs. Kittitas-Thorp game.